Page 130 of Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail

Astrid laughed. “Oh my god, that is not what I thought.”

“Sure you didn’t.”

“I didn’t!”

Jordan leaned in and kissed her. “Just open it.”

Astrid shook her hair out of her face and took the box in her hands, lifting the lid. There, on a little bed of cotton, sat a gold necklace. The chain was delicate, as was the small charm, which was—

Astrid gasped as she recognized that double wishbone shape, her eyes darting to Jordan’s.

Jordan just grinned.

“It’s a clit necklace,” Astrid said.

Jordan nodded, then rushed to explain. “I wanted to get you something after the whole thing with your mom on the back porch, something that made you feel strong. I saw this on Etsy and thought of you.”

“You... thought of me when you saw a clit necklace?”

Jordan laughed. “Not like that.”

Astrid lifted her brows.

“Okay, yes, when I think of you, I want to bang your brains out, but that’s not why I got you the necklace.”

Astrid grinned and tangled her free hand into Jordan’s hair, then let her fingers rest on the back of her neck.

“You admired Natasha for being bold enough to wear something like this,” Jordan went on, “and I wanted you to feel that bold. I wanted to get you something that reminded you that you’re brave and capable and you can choose yourself, you can prioritize whatyouwant, and you deserve to be loved no matter what those priorities end up being.”

Astrid released a breath, then pulled Jordan closer until their foreheads met. God, she was so gone on this woman. She was amazed by her more and more with each passing second.

“I love it,” Astrid said, then sat up to take the necklace from the box. “It’s perfect.”

“You don’t have to wear it. I know it’s a little edgy.”

“I can be edgy,” Astrid said, circling it around her neck and then turning so Jordan could hook the clasp. The charm fell right below the hollow of her throat.

Jordan laughed, but then grabbed Astrid’s legs and turned her back around, sliding her hands up Astrid’s thighs. “You can be anything you fucking want to be.”

And Astrid believed her.

THE DOORBELL RANGat five o’clock that evening. Astrid assumed it was probably her friends, though Claire had promised to try and keep Iris at bay for a few days to give Astrid and Jordan some time together. Still, as Astrid walked toward the door in a tank top andyoga pants, she found she didn’t mind the intrusion. She had a lot to tell her friends, and now was as good a time as any.

And god, Iris would love her clit necklace. Astrid was pretty positive they’d all have matching charms by the start of summer. She smiled at the thought but felt her expression go flat as she opened the door and came face-to-face with her mother.

Isabel Parker-Green looked rough. Well, as rough as Isabel could look, which meant a little less makeup, her hair a little duller than normal, and she was wearing linen pants and a matching top as opposed to her normal silks. Still, as she met Astrid’s gaze, a black umbrella above her head, her eyes weren’t quite as sharp as they usually were, always searching for flaws. No, this was an expression Astrid wasn’t sure she’d ever seen before. She couldn’t even put a name to it.

For the past several days, Astrid had been ignoring her mother’s calls, texts, and emails. She knew they’d have to talk eventually, but she needed time to figure her own self out before she invited Isabel back into the mix again.

“Mother,” she started, but then her throat seized up, a sudden swell of emotion, maybe even fear. She wanted to call out for Jordan, but her girlfriend had gone out to pick up their dinner. It was just as well. Besides, Astrid could handle this on her own.

She straightened her clit necklace and took a breath.

“I’m not ready to talk, Mother,” she said. Her voice only wobbled a little.

“I know you’re not,” Isabel said. Her voice was soft but came out a little stilted, like her usual stoicism was fighting against something gentler.

“Then why are you here?” Astrid asked.